________________
Pakbirra-A Lost Jaina Centre of Purulia
Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay
Pakbirra, about thirty miles south-east of Purulia Sadar and twenty miles north-east of Bara Bazar, a moffusil town of Purulia, West Bengal was probably the biggest Jaina centre of the area. To reach at the ancient site one may start either from Dhadki, Lolara or Puncha-all situated on the Purulia-Puncha bus route. Pakbirra is one to one and half miles from these three points. However, the road, if it is so called, from Puncha to Pakbirra is not at all convenient for a new comer.
Although the ancient site is generally referred to as Pakbirra there is not a village by that name, Pakbirra is comprised of seven surrounding villages, i.e., Thakurthan (attached with the temple site and Mahato dominated), Raidih (Mahato-dominated with a few Brahman families), Muditara (Mahato-dominated), Gorardih (Manjihdominated), Puratandih (Mahato-dominated), Baurirdih (Manjihdominated) and Ragdardih (Manjih-dominated). The temple-site is also famous as 'Bhairava Than'.
Mr. J. D. Beglari who visited the place in 1872-73 and examined the remains in site informs us that there were altogether 21 temples of which 13 were built of stone and 8 of brick,—most of them being in ruins. Beglar saw five of those temples, including one of brick, standing at his time. At present there are three temples standing; of course, all of them are badly ruined. Those two that are standing on the south facing north are in somewhat perceptible shape up to the bāda portion, while the third one standing on the west and facing east is nothing more than a confused pile of stones. However, from the two southern temples a rough idea can be formed about the appearance and basic structure of the temples of Pakbirra. Though the pābhāga portions of the temples are burried underground, they are basically tri-ratha with a
1 Archaeological Survey of India Report, Vol. VIII, pp. 193-194.
JAINTHOLOGY 1213
